Chattanooga, Tennessee UFO Sighting, 1943 — FBI Files
FBI files from 1943 document the claims of A. B. Cross, a watchmaker who believed his rejected flying saucer design was later developed using atomic power.
Historical Context
The year 1943 fell during a period of intense aerial activity and heightened surveillance across the United States. As the Second World War progressed, the presence of unidentified aerial phenomena became a frequent subject of military and civilian concern. This era is characterized by the prevalence of “foo-fighter” reports, a phenomenon where Allied aircretan described luminous, unexplained objects that appeared to pace or shadow combat bombers. These sightings often occurred near vital military installations, leading to a standardized reporting procedure within the Federal Bureau of Investigation. During this period, the Bureau’s various field offices, including those in Knoxville, Albuquerque, and Los Angeles, followed established protocols to route such reports to headquarters to ensure the security of sensitive domestic sites.
The geographical significance of Chattanooga, Tennessee, during the mid-twentieth century cannot be overstated. As a major industrial and transportation hub, the region was integral to the wartime effort. The scrutiny applied to unidentified objects in this area was consistent with the broader national atmosphere of wartime vigilance, where any unexplained aerial presence was treated as a potential threat to national security or a breach of airspace by adversarial forces.
The 1943 Incident and Claims
The specific documentation regarding the Chattanooga event was released to the public on May 8, 2026, through the Presidential Unsealing and Reporting System for UAP Encounters (PURSUE). The released files detail the claims of A. B. Cross, a watchmaker residing in the area. According to the investigative records, Cross asserted that he had successfully invented the “flying saucer” and had formally submitted his technical design to the War Department in 1943.
The documentation indicates that the War Department rejected his proposal, citing the design as being not practical at the present time. Following this rejection, Cross developed a persistent belief that the government had not abandoned the concept but had instead elaborated on his original plan. Specifically, he expressed the conviction that atomic power was now being utilized to facilitate the operation of such craft. While the released documents provide these specific details regarding the inventor’s claims, the total number of witnesses to the phenomena associated with this case is not specified within the file. Notably, the case files include reports of figures or beings associated with the unidentified object, adding a layer of complexity to the reported encounter.
Analytical Status
Under the current regulatory framework, all records released via the PURSUE program are designated as unresolved by the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) by default. The federal government maintains a position of neutrality regarding the Chattanooga files, having reached no formal conclusion as to whether the events were anomalous or could be explained by conventional means. The investigation has not ruled out the possibility of extraterrestrial or non-human intelligence, nor has it dismissed the possibility of terrestrial, man-made origins.
When evaluating sightings from the 1940s, researchers often consider several conventional candidates. These include the testing of experimental aircraft, the presence of weather balloons, or atmospheric optical phenomena such as sundogs and lenticular clouds. Astronomical objects, including the Moon, Venus, or meteors appearing near the horizon, are also frequently cited in historical analyses. However, the specific claims made by Cross regarding the misappropriation of his technology for atomic-powered flight remain a distinct and unverified component of the historical record.